Infant&#39;s bathing device with improved foot actuated dressing table



July 8, 1958 B. H. KENNEDY 2,841,795

INFANT'S BATHING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED FOOT ACTUATED DRESSING TABLE Filed July 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZA/JZ //V 35 A] FIG. 4 INVENTOR.

BENJAMIN H. KENNEDY ATTORNEYS July 8, 1958 B. H. KENNEDY 2,841,795

INFANTS BATHING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED FOOT ACTUATED DRESSING TABLE Filed July 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dumvrox. BENJAMIN H. KENNEDY ATIORNEYS United States Patent INFANTS BATHING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED FOOT ACTUATED DRESSING TABLE Benjamin H. Kennedy, Pittsford, N. Y., assignor of one 7 half to Ann M. Kennedy, Rochester, N. Y.

Application July 30, 1956, Serial No. 60%,951

3 Claims. (Cl. 4---177) This invention relates to infants bathing devices of the character having a flexible tub mounted on a foldable cross-leg support and which includes a dressing table movable from an inactive position at one side of the tub to an active position overlying the tub.

The invention more particularly relates to foot actuated means for moving the dressing table which renders it convenient for the mother to actuate the dressing table by foot while leaving both hands free for holding the infant during the movement of the dressing table.

The invention further relates to an improved construc tion of foot actuated means for moving the dressing table into active position overlying the tub and for locking the dressing table in the active position and for effecting automatic retraction of the dressing table from the active position to the inactive position upon release of the locking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of foot actuated means which insures the proper positioning of the dressing table in the active position overlying the tub.

A further object of the invention is to retain the dressing table in elevated relation during the movement from the inactive to the active position until the dressing table is moved into completely overlying relation with the tub.

A further object of the invention is to provide foot actuated means for moving the dressing table which includes a spring tensioned yoke pivotally connected with the sides of the dressing table and with the cross-leg support together with a foot actuated yoke pivotally connected with the sides of the spring tensioned yoke and which is adapted to be depressed for effecting movement of the dressing table to the active position and for latching the dressing table in the active position on the support against the bias of said spring tensioned yoke.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an infants bathing device provided with a foot actuated dressing table constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the tub in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the dressing table moved includes a collapsible support 10 comprising pairs of foldable cross-legs 11 and 12 which are pivotally connected together intermediate their length by pivot pins 13 with the legs 11 connected together by upper and lower longitudinally extending rails 14 and 15 and the legs 12 connected together by upper and lower longitudinally extending rails 16 and 17. The cross-legs are swingable on the pivot pins 13 from a substantially parallel collapsed relation to an expanded relation in which the upper and lower ends thereof are spaced apart and limited in the outward movement thereof by chains 18 connectin the lower longitudinally extending bars 15 and 17. A flexible and collapsible tub 19 is anchored at its opposite longitudinal upper edges to the upper longitudinally extending rails 14 and 16.

The bathing device also includes a dressing table 20 which is movable from an inactive position at the rear of the tub to an active position overlying the tub and supported by the upper longitudinally extending rails 14 and 16. The dressing table preferably consists of a rectangular frame including front and rear bars 21 and 22 connected by end rods 23 and 24 which retain a panel 25 supported between the front and rear bars in taut condition. The end rods are located below the panel and include upturned opposite ends 26 and 27, the forward portions of the rods being offset downwardly adjacent the upturned forward ends thereof. The end rods 23 and 24 extend under the upper longitudinally extending bar 16 of the cross-legs 12 with the forward ends of the bars resting upon the upper longitudinally extending bars 14 of the cross-legs 11 when the dressing table is in active position overlying the tub.

In order to effect the proper positioning of the dressing table in overlying relation with the tub, means is provided for retaining the dressing table in elevated angular relation with reference to the tub during the forward movement thereof until the dressing table is moved into completely overlying relation therewith. This is preferably effected by foot actuated means which renders it convenient for the mother to move the dressing table from the inactive to the active position and from the active to the inactive position while leaving both hands free for holding the infant during the movement thereof. For this purpose, a bail 28 of U shaped formation is pivotally connected at its upper ends to brackets 29 which are afiixed in any desired manner to the end rods 23 and 24 slightly rearwardly of the middle of the length thereof. The bail 28 is pivotally connected with the frame 10 for swinging movement and is tensioned for normally maintaining the dressing table in inclined relation during the movement thereof toward active and inactive positions.

The bail 28 is slidable in brackets 30 which are mounted for pivotal turning movement on the pivot pins 13. The brackets 30 are of U-shaped formation having apertured upper and lower legs 31 through which the arms 32 of the bail slidably extend with coiled expansion springs 33 arranged thereon between the bottom legs of the brackets and pins 34 extend through the arms 32. The springs resiliently support the bail in an uppermost inclined position. In order to retain the bail in the uppermost position during the movement of the dressing table to said active position, the brackets 29 are provided with inwardly directed extensions 35 located forwardly of the pivotal connections of the bail with the end rods 23 and 24 and which extensions impinge against the arms 32 of the bail to prevent over canting of the forward end of the dressing table. The bail 28 is swung on its pivotal connection with the frame 10 by means of a yoke 36 having a foot engaging portion 37 and upwardly divergent side arm portions 38 which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the arms 32 of the bail as at 42 above 3 the brackets 30. The foot engaging portion 37 includes a forwardly extending bight portion 39 and a cross-rod 40 connected at its ends to the opposite side arms thereof and which constitutes a latch element for engagement beneath a keeper plate 41 affixed to the lower longitudinally extending rail 17.

The dressing table is arranged in a substantially upright relation at the rear of the tub when in the inactive position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When in this position bight portions 39 of the bail are positioned against fittings 41 which form stop elements limiting the rearward movement of the yoke. After the infant has been bathed, the dressing table is moved from the inactive position by depressing the bight portion 39 with the foot so as to swing the dressing table on its pivotal connection with the yoke from the inactive position shown in Fig. 3 to the forwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Further downward movement of the yoke 36 by the foot effects the forward swinging of the dressing table, the extensions 35 functioning to retain the dressing table in the forwardly inclined position until the same is moved into completely overlying relation with the tub, whereupon continued downward movement of the yoke 36 by the pressure of the foot against the foot engaging portion 37 functions to pull the forward portion of the dressing table downwardly against the upper longitudinally extending rail 16 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The downward movement of the bail 23 tensions the springs 33 which are retained in tensioned relation by the latching of the cross-rod 40 beneath the keeper plate 41. The dressing table is then in position for dressing or undressing the infant. The dressing table is automatically moved from the active to the inactive position shown in Fig. 3 by releasing the cross-rod 40 from the keeper plate 41 whereby the tension of the springs 33 function to move the yoke 28 upwardly and swinging the same together with the dressing table rearwardly which assumes the upright position due to the off center positioning of the brackets 29 on the side rods 23 and 24.

While the preferred form of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications which fall Within the purview of the i11- vention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an infants bath tub and associated dressing table and support therefor, first means mounting said dressing table for movement to and from active and inactive positions respectively overlying the tub and alongside thereof, said means including side arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to the dressing table substantially medially at the ends thereof, a U-shaped bracket located at each side having spaced guide openings, said brackets being pivotally connected with the support and through which openings the side arms slideably engage for guiding each side arm, second means carried by said brackets tensioning said side arms to normally urge the same upwardly, a foot operated member having side portions pivotally connected at their upper ends to said side arms for effecting movement of the dressing table from the inactive position to the active position by the downward movement of said member, said dressing table having extensions located adjacent the pivotal connection of the side arms with said dressing table in the path of movement of said side arms and which extensions impinge against said side arms to retain the dressing table in forwardly inclined relation until the dressing table is in complete overlying relation with the tub, and interengageable means carried by said foot operated portion and said support for latching the dressing table in the active position against the tension of said second means.

2. In an infants bath tub and associated dressing table and support therefor, first means mounting said dressing table for movement to and from active and inactive positions respectively overlying the tub and alongside thereof, said means including side arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to a dressing table substantially medially of the ends thereof, second means located at each side pivotally connected with the support and having spaced guide openings through which openings the side arms slideably engage, third means arranged between said spaced guide openings tensioning said side arms to normally urge the same upwardly, a foot operated member having side portions pivotally connected at their upper ends to said side arms between said first and second means for effecting movement of the dressing table from the inactive position to the active position by downward movement of said member, and said dressing table having extensions located adjacent the pivotal connection of the side arms with said dressing table in the path of movement of said side arms and which extensions impinge against said side arms to retain the dressing table in forwardly inclined relation until the dressing table is in complete overlying relation with the tub.

3. In an infants bath tub and associated dressing table and support therefor, means mounting said dressing table for movement to and from active and inactive positions respectively overlying the tub and alongside thereof, said means including side arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to the dressing table substantially medially of the ends thereof and pivotally connected with the support at their lower ends, and said dressing table having extensions located adjacent the pivotal connection of the side arms with said dressing table in the path of movement of said side arms and which extensions impinge against said side arms to retain the dressing table in forwardly inclined relation until the dressing table is in complete overlying relation with the tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,038 Kennedy Feb. 23, 1937 

